the Munich Agreement
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Updated: 28 Jan 2018
Made for cambridge iGCSE history
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Events
September 1938: western statesmen realise that if they
do not do something Hitler will take the Sudetenland
by force.15 September 1938: Summit Meeting 1 of the Munich AgreementIn Berchtesgaden, BavariaWhat did Hitler and Chamberlain decide?Areas of the Sudetenland, where the majority of the population was German (50% +),
should be handed over to Germany.This was subject to approval by the British, French, and Czech governments.Hitler demanded that the Czechs withdraw for the Sudeten areas by 1 October to avoid
the certainty of conflict.Hitler now claimed that he must have the Sudeten territories immediately.Chamberlain reported the approval given by the Brtish, French, and Czech governments.What did Hitler and Chamberlain decide?In Bad Godesberg, RhinelandMay 1938: Hitler considered seizing the Sudetenland but was dissuaded
by the prospect of war with Czechoslovakia, Soviet Russia, and France, backed by Britain.29 September 1938: the Munich ConferenceParticipants: Neville Chamberlain (Britain), Adolf Hitler (Germnay), Benito
Mussolini (Italy), and Edouard Deladier (France)The Sudetenland would be handed over to Germany from Czechoslovakia
over a period of 10 daysThe four powers would gaurantee the remainder of Czechoslovkaia once
Polish and Hungarian claims had been met.Plebiscites would be held in any areas where there was doubt over
the dominant nationality.When Hitler realised what he was risking (European peace) he agreed to
Chamberlain's suggestion, supported by Mussolini, that an international
conference should be held to settle the dispute.Instructions were issued for the mobilisation of the French army and the British
navy.Chamberlain was appalled by Hitler's change of heart at Bad Godesberg and
returned to London to prepare for war.Hitler also disliked Czechoslovakia because of its democratically elected government (Hitler wanted a central government under the leadership of one person,
the Führer),and because of the fact it had an alliance with Soviet Russia and France, and the fact is was a craetion of the Versailles Settlement.It also fulfilled Hitler's foreign policy aim to destroy the Treaty of Versailles, which had created the independent state of Czechoslovakia in the treaties of
Saint Germain with Austria (1919) - Austria had to recognise the independence of Czechoslovakia and transferred territory to it and the Treaty of Triainon
with Hungary (1920) - Hungary had to transfer territory to Czechoslovakia. It also fulfilled his idea to build up a central European empire.The Sudetenland was populated by three and a half million Germans, former subjects of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
This fufilled Hitler's foreign policy aim to create a "Greater Germany" by uniting all German people. It also meant he would have more manpower in an army.The Sudetenland was within Czechoslovakia (giving him access to his next target) but also was on the border with Germany.Why did Hitler want the Sudetenland?Hitler first encouraged protests and demonstrations by the Sudeten Germans because this would give him an excuse.The Sudeten Germans, under their leader Henlein, were complaining of discrimination rom a Czech majority government.This was done without consulting Czechoslovakia first.22 September 1938: Summit Meeting 2 of the Munich Agreement.When presented with the terms
of the Munich Agreement
Czechoslovakia had no choice
but to sign and break up their
country or agree to face war
with Germany alone.The document was a list of vague
promises that pledged Hitler and
Chamberlain to do everything to
keep peace and use the"method
of consultation" to resolve
disagreements. Hitler signed,
knowing thevagueness of the
document saved noone
and Chamberlain returned
boasting he had "bought peace
for our time".Hours after signing the main
agreement Chamberlain
made a personal visit to Hitler
amred with a document that he
invited Hitler to sign.
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